Publications

Recent CEHS research highlighted in publications

Vaping is gaining popularity in the USA, particularly among teens and young adults. While e-cigs are commonly represented as safer alternatives to tobacco cigarettes, little is known regarding the health effects of their shorter long-term use, especially in individuals with pre-existing respiratory diseases such as asthma. Flavored e-cig liquids (e liquids) and e-cig aerosols contain airway irritants and toxicants that have been implicated in the pathogenesis and worsening of lung diseases. In this review, we will summarize existing data on potential health effects of components present in e-cig aerosols, such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings, and discuss their relevance in the context of asthma.

Research publications archived by year:

Shale gas

High-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing (HVHF, often referred to as “hydrofracking” or “fracking”) is a drilling technology in which water mixed with sand and chemicals is injected into drilled wells to enhance the extraction of natural gas from deep shale formations. This technique has vastly increased the potential for domestic natural gas production, and has been promoted as a way to decrease dependence on foreign energy sources, replace dirtier energy sources like coal, and generate new jobs and economic development. However, the rapid expansion of shale gas extraction has resulted in documented impacts on human health and raised concerns about long-term, cumulative, and intergenerational impacts on individuals and communities. Research is ongoing to determine how human health, particularly that of vulnerable populations such as children and low-income rural populations, may be impacted.

A podcast featuring Dr. Trevor Penning from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and UNC-CEHS COEC director Kathleen Gray, who discuss how our understanding of the impacts of fracking has evolved over the past few years.

A factsheet about hydraulic fracturing and the potential health risks for people living near drilling sites.